Bette Midler, who was a lot more than a musician in the
80's, started her music career in the early 70's. Midler was born
in Honolulu, Hawaii. Taking the money she made as an extra in a
movie called Hawaii (1966), Midler moved to New York City.
Midler started out in NYC staring in numerous off-Broadway musicals.
She began singing at the Continental Baths in 1970, and after working
closely with her piano accompanist, a guy named Barry Manilow, The
Divine Miss M was released in 1972. This album reached the
Billboard Top 10 and featured three hit singles: "Do You Wanna
Dance", "Friends", and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".

As the 1970's wore on, Midler released several more
albums. She won a Golden Globe for her work in the 1979 movie,
The Rose, the soundtrack of which also won her a Grammy award (the
title track was No. 1 on the charts for 5 weeks).
She continued both in studio and on the silver screen as the 80's rolled
on. Movies she starred in included Ruthless People, Big
Business, Beaches, and Down and Out in Beverly Hills.
The Soundtrack for Beaches, which featured Midler, featured the
hit song "Wing Beneath My Wings". You may also remember the song
"From a Distance", released on Some People's Lives in 1990.

As the years have rolled on, Midler has continued her
activity both on the silver screen and in the studio. She could
even be found in Vegas from time to time. At the time of this
writing, the Bette Midler Discography was as follows:

1972: The Divine Miss M

1973: Bette Midler

1976: Songs for the New Depression

1977: Broken Blossom

1977: Live at Last

1978: The Best of Bette

1979: Thighs and Whispers

1979: The Rose (Soundtrack)

1980: Divine Madness

1981: The Best of Bette (1981)

1983: No Frills

1985: Mud Will Be Flung Tonight

1987: Just Hits

1988: Beaches (Soundtrack)

1990: Some People's Lives

1991: For the Boys

1993: Gypsy

1993: Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits

1995: Bette of Roses

1997: Classic Performance Live

1998: Bathhouse Betty

2000: Bette

2000: Bette Midler: 3 for One

2003: Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook

2005: Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook

2006: Cool Yule

2008: Jackpot The Best Bette

2010: Don't Miss M in Performance

2010: Memories of You

2011: Original Album Series

1980Divine Madness

THE
ROSE:[starts] Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed,
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your
soul to bleed,
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching
need,
I say love, it is a flower, and you its only
seed [etc]